A push by senator
John Faulkner
to reduce the control of factional leaders and unionists has the support of Labor figures from the Left and Right who want to distance the party from what he described as the “disgraceful conduct and arrogantly corrupt behaviour" of some members.

Finance Minister
Penny Wong
, Australian Workers’ Union national secretary
Paul Howes
, NSW Labor Party secretary Sam Dastyari and senator
Doug Cameron
are among those supporting the proposals, which are a response to allegations of corruption by former NSW Labor ministers
Eddie Obeid
and
Ian Macdonald
.

Senator Faulkner, who is widely regarded as a Labor Party elder statesman, said democracy was being undermined by the public’s suspicion of government.

“Citizens who haven’t enough interest in the democratic process to stay even vaguely informed of the issues of the day have only one profound political conviction: that neither politicians nor a government comprised of them can be trusted," he told a University of Melbourne event yesterday.

Senator Faulkner, who is from the NSW Left faction that has long been subordinate to the Right faction, said federal parliamentarians should introduce a code of conduct and more open reporting rules for political donations before next year’s ­federal election to improve confidence in the political system.

Labor needs One Strike and you’re out rule

Senator Faulkner said the Labor Party must adopt a “one strike and you’re out" rule, replace its committee system with an independent external tribunal to deal with party disputes, and a more democratic process to select candidates for political office to give grassroots members a vote equal to factional chiefs and unionists.

“I don’t necessarily disagree with the contents of what Senator Faulkner has had to say and those individuals should be dealt with if the findings are there," he said on the 7.30 program.

ALP is past powerbrokers in smoke-filled rooms: Dastyari

Mr Dastyari, who has called for the party to debate reform “no matter how painful it is," said the party had moved beyond MPs being chosen by powerbrokers in the “proverbial smoke-filled room". Senator Wong, who is from the Left, told Sky News that members found guilty of corruption should be expelled.

She said she supported a more democratic way of electing political candidates but warned any reforms would have to go through the party process.

Senator Faulkner said a culture had developed in the NSW branch where “being caught out at sharp practices is worn almost as a badge of honour" and the party would be better off without those who employed such methods.

Senator Cameron, a former union leader, said he strongly wanted all party members to have an equal vote.

“I call on the Prime Minister and the leaders of the party in each state to address the issues raised by John Faulkner," he said.

The changes are more likely to go ahead at a state level.The much- criticised NSW branch of ALP has already agreed to consult on more democratic elections of upper house candidates. Any federal reforms would have to wait until the next Labor national conference in 2014.

Senator Faulkner said all internal party committees should be abolished and replaced with a NSW ALP Appeals Tribunal made up of eminent, ethical people who are independent of party factions and can be the new arbiters on party disputes.